Indiana has not experienced a state capitol scandal to rival the Rod Blagojevich affair in many years, but there's little reason for Hoosiers to be smug about their neighboring state's troubles.
On the same day the Illinois governor was thrown out of office, a prominent Indianapolis elected official announced he was stepping down from his post to take a job as a lobbyist. A few days earlier, a newspaper reported that a recently retired state senator was back with his old colleagues -- working as a lobbyist.
We can take their word that Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and former Sen. Robert Meeks are simply fighting for good government in a new arena. We can also ask what it is about Drummer, and Meeks, and former state Rep. Michael Ripley, and former state Sen. Larry Borst, and the dozens of others who have left the General Assembly or other elected office for the lobbying business, that makes them so employable.
We can take their word that Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and former Sen. Robert Meeks are simply fighting for good government in a new arena. We can also ask what it is about Drummer, and Meeks, and former state Rep. Michael Ripley, and former state Sen. Larry Borst, and the dozens of others who have left the General Assembly or other elected office for the lobbying business, that makes them so employable.
Try connections, influence and particular interests, all of which matter to the industries and organizations trying to steer legislation to their benefit, with the public's benefit being incidental. Before he retired because of illness, for example, Meeks was the Senate's top budget negotiator. As the legislature deliberates on a tight state budget and a federal windfall, he will weigh in for special interests.
The editorial goes on to criticize the Indiana General Assembly for failing to act on legislation which would impose a time out period before a departing elected official could join the ranks of lobbyists. Legislation proposed by Sen. Mike Delph this year is fairing no better so far this year.
The public needs to follow these lobbyists to every corner and hold elected officials accountable. I had the full support of Senator Teresa Lubbers and what appeared to be bi-partisan support from the Senate Education Committee for a bill that Senator Tom Weatherwax presented to put a stop to the illegal no-bid scheme that was costing taxpayers millions in overpriced roof jobs.
ReplyDeleteThat "full support" was abandoned immediately after lobbyists from BIG INDY LAWFIRMS (you know the ones) were hired by the special interests to thwart Weatherwax's bill. This is one example of how lobbyists are destroying our state and country. Good government took a back seat to special interests. In short, some legislators who were sent to protect the interests of their constituents sold out their integrity to lobbyists!!! The campaign finance reports told the "rest of the story."
The end result would have been disastrous had it not been for the persistence of a few taxpayers who demanded accountability from lawmakers and other government officials. We exposed what was going on behind closed doors at the statehouse.
Lobbyists are only part of the problem, though. Legislators and other government officials must STOP allowing themselves to be influenced by the promoters of special interests. Their willingness to be persuaded by lobbyists whose sole purpose is to promote special interests is SHAMEFUL!!!! Look at many of these legislators campaign finance reports. It's obvious what is going on. Many of these big law firms are big donors to legislators' campaigns and they expect favors in return. Many lawmakers sell out their integrity by granting the wishes of the special interests even when they hurt the taxpayers who suffer as a result of these lame brain decisions.
Don't let this issue die down. Keep shining the light under the rocks and the roaches will scatter. Sunlight truly is the best disinfectant. Who needs the Indy Star when we have blogs like Advance Indiana and Ogden on Politics?
I should also mention that these shameless snakes called lobbyists don't just try to peddle their influence to legislators and other elected officials. I have evidence (board minutes from the Wilson Education Center) that they even tried to lobby state auditors from the State Board of Accounts into rescinding an audit report that outed the illegal activity. The auditors had the integrity to say no. The difference is that state board of accountants aren't elected, so they don't owe favors in return for campaign contributions, but that certainly didn't stop the lobbyists from the BIG INDY lawfirms from trying.
ReplyDelete